But, lords, in all our bloody maffacre,

I mufe, we met not with the dauphin's grace; His new-come champion, virtuous Joan of Arc; Nor any of his falfe confederates.

Bed. 'Tis thought, lord Talbot, when the fight began,

Rous'd on the fudden from their drowsy beds,
They did, amongst the troops of armed men,
Leap o'er the walls, for refuge in the field.

Bur. Myfelf (as far as I could well difcern,
For fmoke, and dufky vapours of the night)
Am fure, I fcar'd the dauphin, and his trull;
When arm in arm they both came fwiftly running,
Like to a pair of loving turtle doves,

That could not live afinder day or night.
After that things are fet in order here,

We'll follow them with all the power we have.

Enter a Mejenger.

Me. All hail, my lord! which of this princely Call ye the warlike Talbot, for his acts [train So much applauded through the realm of France? Tal. Here is the Talbot; Who would speak with him?

Me. The virtuous lady, countefs of Auvergne, With modefty admiring thy renown,

By me entreats, great lord, thou wouldst vouchfafe
To vifit her poor caftle where fhe lies;

That she may boaft, fhe hath beheld the man
Whofe glory fills the world with loud report.
Bur. Is it even fo? Nay, then, I fee, our wars
Will turn into a peaceful comic sport,
When ladies crave to be encounter'd with.-
You may not, my lord, defpife her gentle fuit.

D

Tal.

Tal. Ne'er trust me then; for, when a world of Could not prevail with all their oratory, [men Yet hath a woman's kindness over-rul'd :— And therefore tell her, I return great And in fubmiffion will attend on her.Will not your honours bear me company?

thanks;

Bed. No, truly; that is more than manners will : And I have heard it faid-Unbidden guests Are often welcomeft when they are gone.

Tal. Well then, alone, fince there's no remedy, I mean to prove this lady's courtesy.

Come hither, captain. [Whispers.]-You perceive my mind.

Capt. I do, my lord; and mean accordingly. [Exeunt

SCENE III. The Countess of AUVERGNE's Castle.

Enter the Countefs, and her Porter.

Count. Porter, remember what I gave in charge; And, when you have done fo, bring the keys to me. Port. Madam, I will. [Exit.

Count. The plot is laid: if all things fall out right, I fhall as famous be by this exploit,

As Scythian Tomyris by Cyrus' death.
Great is the rumour of this dreadful knight,
And his achievements of no lefs account;

Fain would mine eyes be witnefs with mine ears,
To give their cenfure of these rare reports.

Enter a Mejenger, and TALBOT.

Me. Madam, according as your ladyship desir'd, By meffage crav'd, fo is lord Talbot come.

Count. And he is welcome. What! is this the man?

Mel

Meff. Madam, it is.

Count. [As mufing.] Is this the fcourge of France?
Is this the Talbot, so much fear'd abroad,
That with his name the mothers ftill their babes?
I fee, report is fabulous and false:

I thought I should have seen fome Hercules,
A fecond Hector, for his grim aspect,

And large proportion of his strong-knit limbs.
Alas! this is a child, a filly dwarf:

It cannot be, this weak and wrizled shrimp
Should ftrike fuch terror to his enemies.

Tal. Madam, I have been bold to trouble you: But, fince your ladyfhip is not at leifure,

I'll fort fome other time to vifit you.

Count. What means he now?-Go ask him, whither he

goes.

Me Stay, my lord Talbot; for my lady craves To know the caufe of your abrupt departure. Tal. Marry, for that fhe's in a wrong belief, go to certify her, Talbot's here.

I

Re-enter Porter with Keys.

Count. If thou be he, then art thou prifoner.
Tal. Prifoner! to whom?

Count. To me, blood-thirfty lord;

And for that cause I train'd thee to my houfe.
Long time thy fhadow hath been thrall to me,
For in my gallery thy picture hangs :

But now the fubftance fhall endure the like;
And I will chain these legs and arms of thine,
That haft by tyranny, thefe many years,
Wafted our country, flain our citizens,
And fent our fons and daughters captivate.
Tal. Ha, ha, ha!

D 2

Count.

Count. Laugheft thou, wretch? thy mirth fhall

turn to moan.

Tal. I laugh to fee your ladyfhip fo fond,
To think that you have aught but Talbot's fhadow,
Whereon to practife your feverity.

Count. Why, art not thou the man?
Tal. I am, indeed.

Count. Then have I fubftance too.

Tal. No, no, I am but fhadow of myself:
You are deceiv'd, my fubftance is not here;
For what you fee, is but the fmallest part
And leaft proportion of humanity:

I tell you, madam, were the whole frame here
It is of fuch a fpacious lofty pitch,

Your roof were not fufficient to contain it.
Count. This is a riddling merchant for the nonce;
He will be here, and yet he is not here:

How can these contrarieties agree?

Tal. That will I fhew you prefently.

Winds his Horn. Drums ftrike up: a Peal of Ordnance, Enter Soldiers.

How fay you, madam? are you now perfuaded,
That Talbot is but fhadow of himself?

These are his fubftance, finews, arms, and strength,
With which he yoketh your rebellious necks;
Razeth your cities, and fubverts your towns,
And in a moment makes them defolate.

Count. Victorious Talbot! pardon my abuse:,
I find, thou art no lefs than fame hath bruited,
And more than may be gather'd by thy fhape.
Let my prefumption not provoke thy wrath;
For I am forry, that with reverence

I did not entertain thee as thou art.

Tal.

Tal. Be not dismay'd, fair lady; nor misconstrue The mind of Talbot, as you did mistake The outward compofition of his body. What you have done, hath not offended me: Nor other fatisfaction do I crave,

But only (with your patience) that we may Taste of your wine, and fee that cates you have; For foldiers' ftomachs always ferve them well.

Count. With all my heart; and think me honoured To feast so great a warrior in my house. [Exeunt.

SCENE IV. London. The Temple Garden.

Enter the Earls of SOMERSET, SUFFOLK, and WARWICK, RICHARD PLANTAGENET, VERNON, and another Lawyer.

Plant. Great lords, and gentlemen, what means this filence?

Dare no man answer in a cafe of truth?

Suf. Within the temple hall we were too loud; The garden here is more convenient.

Plant. Then fay at once, If I maintain'd the truth; Or, elfe, was wrangling Somerfet in the error? Suf. 'Faith, I have been a truant in the law; And never yet could frame my will to it; And, therefore, frame the law unto my will. Som. Judge you, my lord of Warwick, then be

tween us.

War. Between two hawks, which flies the higher pitch,

Between two dogs, which hath the deeper mouth, Between two blades, which bears the better temper, Between two horses, which doth bear him best, Between two girls, which hath the merrieft eye,

D 2

I have